Modelling, fabrication and characterisation of polymer antiresonant reflecting optical waveguides

Abstract

Interest in the application of polymers to integrated optics is growing steadily. The advantages of low cost and simple and quick preparation make options for wave-guiding involving polymers very attractive. A theoretical model is used to design optimum anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguides (ARROW) structures using polymer materials. We demonstrate an ARROW structure using spin deposited polymethyl methacrylate and polyimide multilayers. The processing of this device was monitored using reflectance and analysed using prism coupling.